“I'm incredibly proud to be going to the Olympics" - Mikkel Bjerg dedicates himself to Mads Pedersen as Danish selection for Paris is confirmed

With the Olympic Games on the programme for a select few within the peloton later this summer, the Danish selection has been confirmed with UAE Team Emirates' Mikkel Bjerg being given not one but two chances to secure his nation and Olympic gold medal.

“I'm incredibly proud to be going to the Olympics," Bjerg reacted to the news of his call up in quotes collected by CyclingPro.net. "I did everything to be there, since last December I've only been home for two weeks; for the rest, I did races and altitude training camps. I also chose to race the Giro d'Italia and skip the Tour de France to be fully ready for the Olympic Games. That's why I'm really happy to have been selected."

Bjerg will be joined on the roads of Paris by Mads Pedersen, Michael Morkov and Mathias Skjelmose with the latter also competing in the individual time-trial alongside Bjerg. "I'm looking forward to helping Pedersen. I do wingman work every day and I specialize in just that. I know I can make a difference for the team," previews the UAE Team Emirates rider, who recently helped Tadej Pogacar secure the first Maglia Rosa of his career at the Giro d'Italia.

"We have a strong national team and we need to show that we are ready to fight for medals in Paris," the 25-year-old three-time time-trial world champion in the youth ranks insists. "Then, I look forward to the time trial. I've been working there for ten years and I know what it takes to perform at your best in that test."

Although the Danish women's selection is not yet official, Bjerg may yet also be joined by wife Emma Norsgaard at the Paris Olympic Games. "Going to the Olympics with Emma would be something very special," Bjerg concludes.